CC:Cuban Connections

James Rauchman

October 17th to November 20th

CC:Cuban Connections

Following Fidel Castro's ascent to power in 1959, American and Cuban ties have endured intense political hostilities. The diplomatic relationship remained frozen but finally shifted towards normalization in 2015 when Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro shook hands at the Summit of the Americas on April 11, 2015.

American artist, James Rauchman first traveled to Cuba in 1997. Intrigued with what he experienced he returned over forty times investigating and documenting Cuban life through the personal lens and paintbrush of an American painter. Rauchman formed many Cuban friendships. Twenty-eight of his watercolour portraits of Cuban friends created an installation and was exhibited during the Ninth Havana Biennale in 2006. Rauchman was one of a few Americans to participate in this important exhibition. CC: Cuban Connections comes as a timely exhibition on the heels of a newly restored diplomatic relationship between the US and Cuba. Chazou Gallery is privileged to present twenty-two of James Rauchman's Cuban portraits as well as three short documentary videos by Rauchman based on his Cuban experience.